FLYMPH FORUM

Has anyone tied with Turtle Dove? Is it legal? They're not song birds are they?

Not turtle dove, but I have with mourning dove which looks to be very similar. Nice pale pinkish dun breast feathers.

I found the hackle stems on the Mourning Dove feathers to be very fragile, or I'm very heavy handed or maybe both. Pretty feathers though. The four pair that I feed in my back yard often leave a feather or two for me.

Yes I found them to be fragile as well.

I'll third the fragility issue.

I find the use of Dove and Pigeon feathers interesting in the fact that they are relatively common, so therefore someone in history somewhere must have tried them before we gave either a thought. I mean even in the middle of New York you could find Pigeon feathers- right? Yet you do not see mention of either in older pattern books. Some of the Pigeon show a real irredescence similar to the peacock feather used for Goats Toe ties or Starling.
There must be something that turns fish off wth them perhaps?

I have easy access to Dove, both Mourning and Turlte, but have never tied with them. Feral Pigeon can be had by anyone with a shotgun here, no protection or season and they are considered a pest.
Might have to give both a try and see what I can report back.